DX LISTENING DIGEST 7-107, September 3, 2007 Incorporating REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING edited by Glenn Hauser, http://www.worldofradio.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits For restrixions and searchable 2007 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn NEXT SHORTWAVE AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1372 Tue 1030 WRMI 9955 Tue 1530 WRMI 7385 Wed 0730 WRMI 9955 WORLD OF RADIO, CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL SCHEDULE: Latest edition of this schedule version, including AM, FM, satellite and webcasts with hotlinks to station sites and audio, is at: http://www.worldofradio.com/radioskd.html For updates see our Anomaly Alert page: http://www.worldofradio.com/anomaly.html WRN ON DEMAND: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 WORLD OF RADIO PODCASTS VIA WRN NOW AVAILABLE: http://www.wrn.org/listeners/stations/podcast.php OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO [also CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL] http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html or http://wor.worldofradio.org ** ABKHAZIA. 9495: A big surprise on 19/8: after usual IS of Abkhaz Radio at 1100 was ID in Russian translated as "Here is the radio of the Headquarter of the Peacekeeping Forces in Abkhazia" followed by news in Russian, mainly international and hostile to Georgia and close/down at 1123. At the end was the mailing address: Headquarter of the KPF, Soukhumi, Abkhazia and .....@invox.ru I lost the first letters, kpf ? (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria, Sony ICF 2001 and Folded Marconi, Sept Australian DX News via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. 6059.92, Radio Nacional, Buenos Aires, 2300-2310+, Sept 2, Spanish soccer coverage. Weak. Poor with adjacent channel splatter from Spain on 6055 & weak co-channel QRM from unidentified station on 6060. Very weak // 15345.01 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. Re 7-106, 15345v reception: Saludos Raúl, doy fe de la buena propagación de la transmisión de la RAE; aquí en Valencia cuando son las 1950 está llegando con buena señal, SINPO 34433. Se aprecia una ligera interferencia de otra emisora, Radio Exterior con programación deportiva, pero hace semanas que no llegaba con esta señal ni con esta nitidez. Respecto a la propagación o mas bien a la mala propagación, sin comentarios, aquí en Valencia se hace desesperante intentar hacer DX. 73 (José Miguel Romero, Burjasot (Valencia), España, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ¿Es posible que hayan hecho algún ajuste técnico? Lo digo porque la señal de la RAE aquí a Córdoba llegaba bastante aceptablemente estos meses atrás y de repente prácticamente desapareció; pero la paradoja es que en la semana pasada pude escuchar varios días Radio Arcangel San Gabriel [15476, Antarctica], a veces hasta con una señal bastante óptima para lo que es habitual. Saludos (Jorge Trinado, Spain, ibid.) 15345: Total different reception condition here in Germany: RTM Nador (Marruecos) is ahead today 19-20 UT Sep 3rd, and RAE Buenos Aires odd 15345.10 kHz underneath, and accompanied buzzy heterodyne (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, Sep 3 ibid.) ** ARGENTINA. ROBERTO PAVANELLO --- LA VUELTA DEL MERCOSUR 2007 E venne l'anno del primo viaggio in Sud America, il terzo nel continente americano dopo Canada 2003 e Mexico 2005. La meta del tour radiofonico di questo 2007 con Dario Monferini è stata il Mercosur, la comunità economica degli stati dell'estrema punta del continente sudamericano, il cono sur. I paesi da noi raggiunti sono stati Argentina, Paraguay, Brasile e Uruguay. Come sempre un breve preambolo sulle possibilità di ascolto di questi 4 paesi. L'Argentina è l'unico paese sudamericano a rivolgersi a noi nella nostra lingua italiana sulle onde corte. La R.A.E. - Radio Argentina all'Exterior, il servizio per l'estero della Radio Nacional Argentina attiva infatti un programma in lingua italiana, dal lunedì al venerdi, sulla frequenza di 15345 KHz dalle 1900 alle 2000 UT. Non è che la qualità del segnale sia delle migliori, a causa delle pesanti interferenze della radio marocchina attiva in isofrequenza, ma alcune volte i segnali argentini prevalgono offrendoci l'ascolto di un piacevole programma. Sempre sulle onde corte sono poi, a volte, sintonizzabili in SSB i segnali di alcune emittenti commerciali ritrasmessi da dei feeder militari a destinazione delle truppe dislocate nell'estremo sud della Patagonia. Benché poi da un punto di vista di "radiocountry", la stazione non vada considerata argentina ma antartica và ricordata la Radio Nacional Arcangel San Gabriel che opera dalla base argentina Esperanza nel continente antartico. La sua frequenza di trasmissione è quella di 15476 KHz e l'ascolto è a volte possibile verso le ore 19-20 UT. Pure sulle onde medie è possibile, quando le condizioni propagative sono ottimali e se si dispone di ricevitori semiprofessionali ed antenne direttive, l'ascolto di qualche stazione argentina. Abbonatevi a qualche bollettino di radioascolto per sapere le frequenze da monitorare con più assiduità. . . .Era giunto il momento di effettuare l'ultima visita della giornata e della radio in Buenos Aires, quello che dal punto di vista DXistico è stato sicuramente il momento più elevato di tutto il viaggio, la visita alla redazione italiana della R.A.E. - Radio Argentina all'Exterior. Li giunti eravamo subito raggiunti con immenso calore da Sandro Cenci, lo storico conduttore del programma e dal suo collaboratore Romano Martinelli. Si facevano quattro chiacchere e poi subito in studio per la diretta della trasmissione durante la quale venivamo anche intervistati da Sandro. Speriamo che qualcuno sia riuscito ad ascoltarci!! !!Tutti sapete quali problematiche abbia in Italia la ricezione di R.A.E., problematiche che sono ben conosciute anche dalla direzione dell'emittente, ma a livello governativo nulla cambia, nulla si fà per risolvere il problema. Ora i lavoratori della Radio Nacional sono in lotta per ottenere migliori condizioni di lavoro (non chiedono la luna ma, ad esempio, una stampante ogni due computer, dei cellulari per gli inviati esterni, un trasmettitore da 250 Kwatt per la R.A.E.) e l'unica nostra speranza è che queste richieste vengano finalmente accolte. Al termine salutavamo la speakers del servizio francese consegnandogli una lettera dell'amico Cristian Ghibaudo e poi Sandro ci portava a visitare gli studi dei servizi nazionali. Terminata la visita ci spostavamo in un vicino caffè per fare 4 chiacchere. Sandro è una persona straordinaria, una leggenda della radiofonia in lingua italiana, cosi come lo sono stati Nazario Salvadori della DLF e Giovanna di Radio Mosca. 74 anni portati benissimo, nato in Molise e trasferitosi in Argentina da bambino subito dopo la guerra, svolge anche attivita di bibliotecario, di insegnante di italiano e collabora con il nostro consolato in Buenos Aires. E' una persona di straordinaria cultura e di grande impegno sociale presso la nostra comunità, ed e anche molto simpatico, non manca mai di inserire una battuta o una piccola barzelletta durante la chiaccherata. Ci fermavamo per quasi 3 ore a chiaccherare e al momento del congedo, mi sbaglierò ma a me è parso che Sandro avesse gli occhi lucidi. Grazie di tutto Sandro, è anche grazie a persone come te che l'hobby del radioascolto è il più bello che esista. Questo straordinario ed emozionante momento poneva fine alla nostra vuelta radiofonica di Buenos Aires (excerpt by gh of Roberto Pavanello`s August travel diary, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. 4835, ABC-Alice Springs, 0755-0830*, Sept 2, English programming with coverage of rugby match. Local news. Promos for upcoming programs. Sports scores. Abruptly pulled plug at 0830. // 4910-Tennant Creek. Both frequencies weak but readable (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. COAST RADIO HOBART VKT638. There has been a slight change at this station. The 4 MHz frequency is now 4146 kHz replacing the former 4620. Scheduled broadcasts are at 0345, 0903 & 2145 UT on 2524, 4146 & 6227 (Wayne Austin of Mile End, SA, Utility DX Report, Sept Australian DX News via DXLD) ** BIAFRA [non]. New 15665.03, *1959-2100* Friday 31-08, Voice of Biafra International, via WHRA, Greenbush, ME. English opening announcement with four ID's like: "This is the Voice of Biafra International broadcasting to you from Washington, D.C. on 15.67 MHz frequency in the 19 meterband", African song, 2004 news about Biafra, political comments against Nigeria, 34333, Heterodyne. This replaces the Saturday broadcast on 7380 which was not heard 01 Sep. Best 73, (Anker Petersen, Denmark on the AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) Hmmm, wonder where he heard about it? Some DXers make a point of crediting tips, some do not (gh, DXLD) {via WHRI, not WHRA!} ** BOLIVIA. We have seen several reports of R. Estambul on 4875, but not a single definite ID since Rogildo Aragão`s original log of this on what used to be La Cruz del Sur`s frequency. Not to doubt his log, but it would be nice if we had some more definite IDs in case that transmission was a relay or some kind of fluke (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. Estupenda señal de Radio Santa Cruz en 6134.78 a las 0210 UT (Sept. 3) emitiendo las incidencias del partido (suspendido) entre The Strongest y Blooming de la Liga del Fútbol profesional boliviano (Rubén G. Margenet, Argentina, condiglist yg via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. Che dire del Brasile, se non che è rimasto, con Cuba, l'unico paese latino-americano che ogni notte si è sicuri di poter sintonizzare! Se ancora non l'avete ascoltato sintonizzate verso mezzanotte i 4885 o i 4985 KHz. Se il vostro ricevitore non è rotto sentirete, rispettivamente Radio Clube do Parà da Belem e Radio Brasil Central da Goiania. . . .A quel punto lasciavamo la collina per tornare nel centro della città e raggiungere la sede di uno dei "miti" del DXing brasilero, quella Radio Clube Paranaense, che spesso, se il canale è libero da stazioni europee, non in questa estate 2007, è ascoltabile anche qui in Italia su 6040 kHz. R. Clube Paranaense, appartiene al Grupo Lumen che in Curitiba attiva ben 4 stazioni, la già menzionata Radio Clube Paranaense attiva sull'onda media di 1430 kHz, oltre che sulle onde corte di 6040, 9725 e 11935 kHz, Radio Paranà 1160 kHz, Lumen FM su 99.5 MHz e Clube FM su 101.5 MHz. La sede è un vecchio palazzo molto grande situato verso la semiperiferia cittadina ed è bastato dire che eravamo ascoltatori dell'onda corta per poter accedere senza problemi alle installazioni, che ad onor del vero sono un po' "datate" e forse meritevoli di qualche miglioria. La prima stazione da noi raggiunta nella mattinata di martedì 14 era una delle storiche emittenti della radiodiffusione brasiliana sulle onde corte, Radio Guaíba quella che ancor oggi si può tentare di sintonizzare sui 6000 e i 11785 kHz. Per la città di Porto Alegre Radio Guaíba opera anche sull'onda media di 720 KHz ed attiva un programma in FM su 101.3 MHz. L'emittente è di proprietà del quotidiano locale ed è ospitata in un bel palazzo ottocentesco nel pieno centro di Porto Alegre, all'interno dell'isola pedonale. Le magiche parole "ouvientes dela onda curta" ci permettevano l'ingresso senza troppi problemi e avevamo cosi modo di vedere tutto quanto, gli studi, anch'essi un po' datati, le apparecchiature di controllo, i link coi trasmettitori e di parlare un po' con i tecnici appurando che l'onda corta non è certo il loro interesse primario, ma per ora continuano, speriamo a lungo!!! Al momento del congedo un souvenir veramente insolito: una camicia col logo dell'emittente, prima camicia radiofonica mai avuta in vita mia!!! A quel punto ci spostavamo in periferia per raggiungere la concorrente di Radio Guaiba sulle onde corte, Radio Gaúcha, la stazione brasilera attiva su 6020 kHz, oggi però coperta dalla peruviana in isofrequenza Radio Victoria. L'ingresso era un po' più difficoltoso, ma alla fine riuscivamo a superare lo sbarramento iniziale e raggiungere la sede del Grupo RBS che nello stesso palazzo attiva sull' onda media di 1340 kHz CBN, oltre che anche Radio Gaúcha su 600 KHz. Qui rispetto a Guaíba si è in un altro mondo: tutto modernissimo ed efficiente ma per l'onda corta il disinteresse è totale, tanto che c'è da meravigliarsi se l'emittente è ancora in onda. Raccoglievamo alcuni adesivi di CBN e procedevamo per il nostro itinerario (excerpt by gh of Roberto Pavanello`s August travel diary, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** CANADA. 6030, CFVP, Calgary, Canada. Finally, after 36 hours [must mean years, or sesquiyears?] of this hobby, managed to get enough for a reception report, 13/8, at 0715 thru 0730 thanks to tip from Chris Hambly in Melbourne, fluttery signal and low level, music played C and W music heard an ID for a 1060 station in Calgary at 0729. Gone by 0740 when well after sunset. Radio Martí off Mondays (John Wright, Peakhurst NSW, Icom R75 and EWE antennae), Sept Australian DX News via DXLD) Chris previously insisted this was Sunday, not Monday, sigh (gh) CFVP [sic] 1060 Calgary --- For those of you that have not heard this station on its 6030 kHz translator, it is really getting out tonight. On the West Coast it is a good 10 to 20db over S9 on my Eton E1, the 2010 and the R8. Cheers, (Colin Newell, Victoria B.C. Canada, 0547 UT Sept 3, IRCA via DXLD) Another jammer/Martí Monday morning truce (gh) VP = Voice of the Prairie(s) (gh, DXLD) ** CANADA. 1150 CJRC QC --- I have spoken to someone at the station and have preliminary news many of us won't appreciate. They have moved to FM 104.7 - I know, as I've logged it. But they plan to stay on AM for at least a few more months because the FM isn't reaching the full of their target audience. It's not terribly high-powered and I can appreciate that. I do wonder what planning went into this move, but I don't yet know all the facts and am holding judgment. look for it to last until at least December, if not longer, on 1150. I also heard 630 Sherbrooke last night. Not sure if the other two in this set of four that flipped to FM have left AM yet (Saul Chernos, Ont, Sept 2, NRC-AM via DXLD) 630 = CHLT Sherbrooke 630 also heard // 730 CKAC well unuder CFCO huge pest. CJRC 1150 often overrides CKOC as well. 73 KAZ (Neil Kazaross, DXing in Grafton WI with ENE Phased BOG System, ibid.) On a vaguely related subject that came up at the Convention... CKPR- 580 Thunder Bay is still on, as of last Tuesday night. However, they're only running a tape loop telling people to go to 91.5 FM. (so they don't have long to live on AM) (Doug Smith, ID, ibid.) ** CANADA. Digital radio in Canada --- It`s still in use in the big cities, but nobody has receivers. It was supposed to replace AM and FM. Now that talk has vanished. The website promoting it dried up with DAB news items that were a couple years old and a long expired contest. The $300 and $400 pocket radios that could receive DAB are available no longer. Radio Shack that promoted DAB with big talk couldn't get beyond those two pocket radios, and then itself morphed in The Sourcer by Circus City, a.k.a. the most painful name in Canadian retailing. By contrast AM Stereo and even IBOC would seem to be successes. The big flaw was not following the British model, offering a band in the 200 or so MHz which would have had a chance of decent coverage. the coverage of L-Band was laughable. The ultimate joke was in Halifax, where the DAB test installation had coverage just like Swiss cheese - and the stations on it never promoted it. The real death knell was satellite radio, especially with big brother CBC owning a serious part of Sirius Canada. There is the occasional stand alone DAB license applicant - specialty/ ethnic programming and all. But you can bet they will be begging for whatever else they can get - maybe a class A1 license with 250 watts, or an X-band AM station with a 1/8 wavelength tower. By and large Canadians are satisfied with FM radio, well, except for the programming. But then, there are a few really good stations that stand out like stars. Newcap's Ocean 100 [CHTN-FM] and sister station K-Rock are awfully good. CKEC is awfully good. CJFX pales compared to its former self, but is still, all in all, a pretty good station. MBS Radio stations are the pits. Make Clear Channel look good (Phil Rafuse, PEI, Sept 3, ABDX via DXLD) ** CHINA. 4750.0, 2120-2135 01-09, Voice of China, Xi`an. Chinese talk, announcement, 25232, heard // 4460 (35343), 4800 (45444), 5030 (33443) and 9890 (35343) (Anker Petersen, Denmark on the AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) Voice of China? A different name for one of the domestic programs, or external? What is that in Mandarin? WRTH 2007 does not have Xi`an on 4750, but: CNR1 Nanning 100 kW at 2000-1735; and Qinghai N[ews channel], Xining, 15 kW // 666 kHz. PWBR 2007 shows: CPBS DS-1, Xi`an starting at 2000; and Qinghai PBS, Xining, 50 kW, starting at 2215. Aoki/NDXC Sept 1 update has these China listings on 4750, with further contradixions: 4750 PBS Qinghai 0600-0855 12.4567 Chinese 15 270 Xining CHN 10136E3638N QPBS//6145 a07 4750 PBS Qinghai 0855-1600 1234567 Chinese 15 270 Xining CHN 10136E3638N QPBS a07 4750 PBS Qinghai 2200-0600 1234567 Chinese 15 270 Xining CHN 10136E3638N QPBS a07 4750 CNR 1 2000-1730 1234567 Chinese 100 ND Qiqihar? CHN 12236E4834N CNR1 a07 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [and non]. FIREDRAKE SATELLITE FEED LOCATED --- Hi Glenn, I have posted an article at my website that you may be interested in. Here is the link, and the main text on the page. Also check out the digital sample of Firedrake at my site. Cheers, Mark Fahey, Sydney, Australia [illustrated with wonderful socialist-realism] http://www.satdirectory.com/firedrake.html Some countries fear a free flow of information through the media and often go to extraordinary lengths to ensure they maintain control over the distribution of news and information in their nation. While some governments are kept busy building media firewalls or other barriers to stop outside information being received by their citizens, other groups are just as determined to allow their views to be heard behind these barriers. Information can be diluted or restricted by many different methods. Some information is via a relatively “light” non-technical approach, other “heavy” techniques use various technologies to jam or completely stop the flow of the information considered subversive. An example of a ‘light” approach to control a media outlet may be the ridiculing of Al-Jazeera by senior members of the USA government. The anti Al-Jazeera campaign in the USA has led many in that nation to consider the broadcaster as an evil mouthpiece for Islamic terrorists and not ideal viewing by patriotic Americans. Meanwhile outside of the USA some view the station as un-biased and an shining example of a balanced media organisation. A “heavier” approach may include national restrictions and censorship of the Internet and jamming of radio and television transmissions that do not align to a particular belief. Two groups that definitely don’t see eye-to-eye when it comes to beliefs is the government of the Peoples Republic of China and the followers of Falun Gong. Both parties have been accused of being players in a constant war to control the delivery of information, and interestingly part of the war is being played out over satellites. Falun Gong - Satellite Hackers? 2007 is seeing a massive reorganisation of the domestic radio and television services delivered by satellite links in China. Over recent years the Chinese have been exposed to an embarrassing series of hijacks of these satellite links. The hijacks have seen the official evening news from Beijing being replaced by Falun Gong programming. For many years the AsiaSat, Sinosat and Apstar platforms have been used to distribute media across mainland China. As a result of the hijackings the services are now shifting on mass to two new satellites, Chinasat 6B and Sinosat 3. The new satellites have been built with systems that are designed to prevent the hacking of the services. Chinasat 6B also plays another important role in the war of control of the Falun Gong, it is the source delivering the dreaded Firedrake Jammer to Chinese Radio Jamming transmitter sites. Firedrake Jammer The Falun Gong’s shortwave radio station The Sound of Hope is the main method of reaching their supporters in mainland China. Sound of Hope programs allege persecution and torture by the Peoples Republic of China, and as you might expect, the Chinese go to incredible efforts to ensure the station is basically impossible to listen to by jamming the station. The Chinese Firedrake Jammer is a powerful transmitter that sits on top of the same frequency as the Sound of Hope. Firedrake covers the Falun Gong programming with loud Chinese Classical Music featuring gongs, flutes and drums. The Firedrake music is so intense that it usually completely dominates the frequency with the Falun Gong program underneath it becoming unintelligible. Shortwave Radio Enthusiasts and Ham Radio operators have been watching China’s Firedrake with interest. They believe that the primary Firedrake transmitter location is on Hainan Island off the coast of Southern China, however it is believed that there may be other transmitter sites also in use. It has also been noted that the Firedrake audio is a one hour loop with no announcements. This got us thinking at Satdirectory; how does the Firedrake programming get to the transmitter site? Is it delivered by a tape or CD on repeat or is it like most other Chinese radio, delivered by a satellite link to the transmitter? Well, a search with our 3 meter dish has found Firedrake! The audio is transmitted on Chinasat 6B within the China National Radio (CRI) satellite feed circuits. Many of the China National Radio feeds are in stereo, however one channel that is solely mono is the CRI 8 - The Voice of the Minorities broadcast which features programs in the Kazakh, Korean, Mongolian, Tibetan and Uighur languages. The CRI 8 audio feed to the Chinese transmitter sites can be found on the left audio channel of a feed circuit labelled “Lzh8Rdjy”. On the right audio channel of this feed is the feed for the Firedrake transmitters. Following our discovery we tuned up a shortwave receiver to 17780 kHz which at the time also had the jammer running. The audio from the satellite feed and the shortwave radio were synchronised with no delay. This confirmed that the Firedrake shortwave transmitter site was also being fed by the same satellite feed, otherwise we would have expected a delay of a second or so due to the satellite uplink and downlink path delay when compared to the shortwave broadcast. Satdirectory can confirm that the Firedrake audio program in exactly 60 minutes (down to the second actually) and we have made a full studio quality copy of the broadcast which can be made available on CD for study and academic use on request (Mark Fahey, NSW, Sept 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. SEPULTADO OSCAR LUIS LÓPEZ, EL HISTORIADOR DE NUESTRA RADIO Noticias de la Radio Cubana --- Actualizado, septiembre 02, 2007 Por Maria Salomé Campanioni, Editora Web del Portal de la Radio Cubana http://www.radiocubana.cu/noticias/septiembre_07/sepultado_oscar_luis_lopez_el_historiador_de_nuestra_radio.asp Con profundo pesar el Instituto Cubano de Radio y la Televisión Cubanas conoció del deceso del creador, actor, ensayista y realizador radial Oscar Luis López, Premio Nacional de Radio por la obra de toda la vida e importante personalidad de nuestros medios de comunicación. Creador de los volúmenes “Historia de la Radio en Cuba” y “Luis Casas Romero”, Oscar Luis López es de esas personas imprescindibles por el legado que nos dejó a todos los creadores, actores, técnicos, periodistas, escritores de nuestra radio y televisión. Se inició en la radio en 1933, en 1941 interpretó el famoso personaje de Chan Li Po creado por Félix B Caignet, inauguró la emisora MIL Diez, y en la década de los años 50 y 60 fue protagonista de importantes innovaciones en la dirección de programas dramáticos y musicales como el movimiento “audio-escénico” y el uso de una metodología en la narración radial. Destacado profesor de técnica radial en el ICRT, miembro de la Unión Nacional de Escritores y Artistas de Cuba y la Unión de Periodistas de Cuba. Fungió como jurado en variadas ediciones del Festival Nacional de la Radio y participó en todos los congresos de la UNEAC como delegado. Oscar Luis López nos dejó su magisterio. Al morir contaba con la distinción por la Cultura Nacional, el Premio Nacional de Radio por la Obra de toda la Vida, el diploma como Fundador de la Televisión Cubana, la orden Félix Varela, y el Micrófono de la Radio Cubana Llegue a todos sus familiares y amigos nuestro más sentido pésame por tan irreparable pérdida. DATOS BIOGRÁFICOS DE OSCAR LUÍS LÓPEZ http://www.radiocubana.cu/noticias/septiembre_07/oscar_luis_lópez_fernandez_datos_biograficos.asp (via José Miguel Romero, Spain, dxldyg via DXLD) OBIT ** CUBA [non]. Re 7-106, 6152: Not exactly, however, after trying my SSB with no luck getting a clear signal at 6150, I got suspicious and started frequency hunting. I have a Sangean ATS 505 so I am somewhat limited since this receiver is equipped with a "clarifier" that is used in conjunction with the SSB switch. It has been very effective when I listen to ham traffic, however. By doing my frequency search in 1 kHz segments, I was able to isolate the frequency to 6152 kHz. In other words, 6151 & 6153 did not give me a clear signal (Tyrrell C. Burns, dxing.info via DXLD) ** DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. 6025.04, R. Amanecer, Sto. Domingo, 0302+, 2 Sept., fair with hymn & "R. Amanecer, difusora, religiosa, banda internacional de 49 M" and back to religious music. Weak but music still audible at 0332 recheck (Dan Sheedy, Cardiff, CA R75/Kiwa, 120' random WOR (wire on roof), dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR. 4909.2, R. Chasqui/Chaskis, Otavalo, 1106-1142, 2 Sept. Nice Andean flute music, M in what sounded like mix of Quechua/Spanish with TC at 1111, into low-key yak by 2 M, "nuestros oyentes, comentario en Radio Chas.." (elided "kis") & mention of Otavalo, more flute music/hymns as signal slid under noise. Very weak but still audible at 1142 (Dan Sheedy, Cardiff, CA R75/Kiwa, 120' random WOR (wire on roof), dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. 5005, Radio Nacional-Bata, 2230-2258* Sept 2, Spanish talk. Traditional African music. Afro-pops. Sign off with long National Anthem. Surprisingly good, strong signal (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ERITREA. 7175, 1600-1700, 01-09, Voice of the Broad Masses of Eritrea, Asmara (presumed). Vernaculars news, talks and songs from Horn of Africa, probably change of language at 1630, Eritrea mentioned three times, 1645 a native song mentioning Somali twice, 32433. All the time covered by a possible Ethiopian music jammer playing non-stop Middle East songs (QSA 4). From *1655 also other QRM (Anker Petersen, Denmark on the AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. German Post returned my reception report to Sagalee Bilisummaa Oromoo (Voice of Oromo Liberation) that has been addressed to P. O. Box 510620, D-13366, Berlin (as per WRTH-07). Postal authorities marked the envelope as "non reclame". Now I found the station's page at http://www.oromoliberationfront.org/sbo.html and I see that P. O. Box number is a bit different: 510610. Other elements of address are correct. Did anybody try to contact the station via P. O. Box 510610 recently? (Dmitry Mezin, Russia, dxldyg via DXLD) "Non reclamé" means that the owner of the box did not pick up the mail in time. The mailbox contract with German post offices says that the boxes have to be emptied at least once a week, otherwise the mail is returned. Thus, "non reclamé" does not necessarily mean that the box has a new owner. As for 510610 and 510620, the SBO organisation appears to been renting both postboxes in the past years: Sagalee Blilummaa Oromoo/Voice of Oromo Liberation --- I received a partial-data letter for SBO on 15715 in 32 months. In the meantime, I have sent follow-ups and new reports to at least 4 different addresses, including one of those on their letterhead which has 2 slightly different addresses: Sagalee Blilummaa Oromoo (SBO), PO Box 510610, D-13366, Berlin, Germany, and Voice of Oromo Liberation Radio, PO Box 510620, D-13366, Berlin, Germany. The broadcast was via Jülich. (W. Craighead-USA Mar 10, 2003 for CRW) See also http://www.schoechi.de/piccla/1000.jpg (Bernd Trutenau, Sept 3, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hello Friends, I found an another address: Prinzenallee 81, 13357 Berlin 1 (Peter Kruse, ibid.) ** FINLAND. Re 7-106, SWR relayed an anniversary programme of RadioHullut on the last weekend. See http://www.radiohullut.net/juhlaeng.html 73, (Patrick Robic, Austria, Sept 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6170, 1555-1600, Sat 01-09, Scandinavian Weekend R, Virrat. Finnish announcements, Finnish pop songs, 33333, QRM Croatia 6165 (QSA 5), also heard very weak at 1015: SINPO 15321 // 11690. 11690, 1015-1020 Sat 01-09, Scandinavian Weekend R, Virrat. Finnish announcements, Finnish pop songs, 23332, fighting with an Arabic speaking station (Anker Petersen, Denmark on the AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** FRANCE. 7135 DRM. RFI, Issoudun. Came on *0659, special broadcast for Berlin IFA consumer electronics show 30/8-6/9. On-screen ID as "TDF-Issoudun" and language shown as French, but unfortunately couldn't decode audio this day. SNR peaking 8.4dB, B/R was 20.96 kbps, 1/9 (Craig Seager, Bathurst NSW, Icom R75, Horizontal Loop, Dream DRM software, Sept Australian DX News via DXLD) ** GERMANY [non]. 6130 DRM, DW, Woofferton. Steady signal 0634, German actualities, then into talk about a music festival. 18.08 kbps, stereo signal, peaking at SNR 16.7dB, 1/9 (Craig Seager, Bathurst NSW, Icom R75, Horizontal Loop, Dream DRM software, Sept Australian DX News via DXLD) See also DIGITAL BROADCASTING ** GERMANY. Berlin-6005 most likely gone for good These days a shortwave freak has one particular question when he chats with a representative of Deutschlandradio engineering [at IFA Berlin; cf DIGITAL BROADCASTING], and this is the answer: Meanwhile management decided to not allocate the 100.000 Euro needed to repair the 6005 transmitter. Period. One could wonder if Jülich should not be a place where a piece of the transformer in question could be found. But not so: Indeed both Berlin-Britz and Jülich have S4001 series transmitters, but the ones at Jülich are a SSB-capable variant with different transformers. And replacing the complete transmitter at Berlin-Britz would be even more expensive, so this is no solution as well. So it is in all likelihood a sad fact (also for the engineers) that 6005 is off for good. There are no plans to retune the 1950-vintage transmitter back to 6005; it will stay on 6190 and continue to carry Deutschlandfunk indefinitely. The end will come when an expensive fix would be necessary, just like it is the case with the 6005 transmitter now. But do not panic early if 6190 should be missing: This does not rule out repairs that can be done without purchasing such expensive parts, and as always and everywhere, big failures are supposed to not happen (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Sept 3, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. 6045, *1200-1300*, Sunday 02-09, MV Baltic Radio, via Juelich. German/English announcements, 3 years Birthday program with local talks and heavy rock songs presented by Roland Rothe, 55555. Following broadcasts on Sundays at 1200: Sep 16 EMR (new QSL), Sep 23 R Gloria and Oct 07 MV Baltic R (Anker Petersen, Denmark on the AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** GREECE. 9935, Radiophonikos Statmos Makedonias was heard on 27/08 [Mon] 1156-1200 with news in English mainly for the fires there. On 28/08 [Tue] at 1057 [you mean 1157 this time, i.e. demonstrating English is not every day, or not?] was played the National Anthem Of Greece followed by news in Greek (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria, Sony ICF 2001 and Folded Marconi, Sept Australian DX News via DXLD) ** GREECE. Glenn: The "Greek In Style" program in English on Voice of Greece was back on at 2305 UT Sunday to 0005 UT Monday on the frequencies of 7475 and 9420 in this area. Angeliki Timms hosted this edition of good Greek music featuring famous Greek artists (John Babbis, MD, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, I heard it too on webcast, but after 0200 UT Monday, no sign of English (gh, DXLD) ** GUIANA FRENCH. After a 3-week + 2-day-weekend summer vacation, TDF DRM is back, buzz heard again Monday Sept 3 at 1413 on 17870-17875- 17880 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. Atsunori Ishida has published another updated Indonesian SW survey as of the end of August; sadly, only 26 frequencies are left: http://wave.ap.teacup.com/n1hp/html/sw_070831.pdf (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN [non]. IRIB has become a very good verifier although with their new Lithuania relay it is time for them to learn about indicating relay sites on cards, hi! Got a response back indicating site as “via Lithuania relay.” This card was in response to an e-mail to “Dory” asking for that information to be included on subsequent reception reports. Hopefully, they will make this a regular habit on all subsequent replies. LITHUANIA, 6255, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting verified with a full data Khaju Bridge card in 136 days indicating site as “via Lithuania relay.” This card was in response to an e-mail to “Dory” asking for that information to be included on subsequent reception reports. Also received a calendar, a magazine entitled Zamzam for Young People and a book “The Wine of Love which is “Mystical Poetry of Imam Khomeini (Richard A. D’Angelo, Wyomissing, U.S.A., Ten-Tec RX- 340, Drake R-8B, Eton E1, Lowe HF-150, Eton E5, Alpha Delta DX Sloper, RF Systems Mini-Windom, Datong FL3, JPS ANC-4, Sept Australian DX News via DXLD) ** IRAN. Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran --- WOLFGANG BUESCHEL forwards this letter from the Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran sent to the Worldwide DX Club: With this not so brief!!! Introduction below I want to invite you and all your club members to listen to our station and send us your reception reports and comments and views. Through our service you can get an inside view into what goes on in this part of the world IRIB World Service English Radio The English section of the voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran started work in 1956 with the aim of familiarizing different world nations with Iran's history and culture as well as its different regions and historical sites. Following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, elaborating on the revolution's stances and the ideals of the Islamic Republic system were put high on the English radio's agenda. English speaking countries such as the US, Canada, Britain, Australia, New Zealand and those countries with English as their second language, including such European countries as Germany, France, Sweden, Asian countries such as Pakistan, as well as Indian subcontinent and Latin and Central American countries, comprise the addressees of the English radio. Around 180 minutes of programs in the form of recorded programs, live news, commentaries and news reports are produced in the English section each day. The radio's schedule includes the recitation of Qur`anic verses, news, political commentaries, different series and features on special occasions. Around 170 letters from different countries are received each month by the English radio. It is worth noting that every day a 60-minute package is aired, addressing all truth-seeking Americans. This edition is entitled: The Voice of Justice. The objective behind this edition is campaign against the US administration's interventionist policies. In this package such issues as "Economic Deficiency in the US", "The US Adverse Foreign policy" and "The US Strategy in the Middle East" as well as "Media Distortion in the US" and "Social Paralysis in the US" are analyzed. The English radio's Internet site was launched in July 2003. The Internet and E-mail address of the radio are as follows: Web site: http://eng.irib.ir E-mail: englishradio@irib.ir The new policy of the English radio is making use of Internet articles and the foreign and domestic reflection of these issues, a task, which is carried out by skilled translators. Almost in all days of the year, the English radio conducts interviews with prominent international figures. The interviews conducted for The Voice of Justice edition investigate and analyse the issues related to the US. The postal address and telephone number of the English radio are as follows: 211, English Radio, Second Floor, The World Service, Building Jam-e-Jam, Valiaser Street, Tehran, Iran. Mail address: P. O. Box No. 19395-6767, English Service, Tehran, Iran. Tel: 00 98-21-2013720, 2162895, 2162734, Fax: 00 98-21-2013770 The English section of the voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran is supervised by the General Department of the US and Europe of the IRIB's World Service. The department includes the Albanian, German, Spanish, English, Italian, Bosnian, Russian and French radios, the programs of which address the European, American, Latin American, Canadian, North African, Central African, Southern African, Indian Subcontinent and Central Asian regions. Looking forward to receiving TONS of letters from you. Regards, Dory Aalivandi, IRIB English Service The current schedule of English broadcasts is 0130-0230 on 7235 9495 to North America (Voice of Justice), 1030-1130 to South Asia on 15600 17660, 1530-1630 to South Asia on 7370 9635, 1930-2030 Europe and Africa on 6205 6255 (via Lithuania) 7205 9800 9925 (via Sept World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** IRELAND [non]. Re 7-106, RTE in DRM mode: ``11735 1530-1700 from Woofferton UK, DREAM software Version 1.6.46cvs cannot handle language codec CELP and HVXC; audio of RTE could not be heard/decoded.`` Receivers with the RS-500 chipset have this capability, though: http://www.drmrx.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=34292&d=1188761367 And I think one could say that the DREAM software is hardly a regular reception device but instead a toy for "our dear friends, the DXers" (as Peter Senger put it yesterday) to play with. In this regard the mentioned thread in the A-DX list speaks volumes: The RTÉ transmission found big attention in the DX scene, but what about real listeners? (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Sept 3, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also DIGITAL BROADCASTING Re this part of Wolfgang's mail >>>AM. 17860am and 17495drm were poor at my location, only S=2-3 here in the dead zone of Albion's Rampisham and Woofferton transmissions towards Africa, just above threshold. Nothing noted on 17710 kHz.<<< Frequency 17710 was heard in parallel with 17860, but I came to the rest of the frequencies too late to hear anything of them. Both 17 MHz channels were weak at my location (Noel R. Green (NW England), ibid.) 17860, "IRELAND". REÉ Radio One, 1428-1526, 9/1/07 [sic: this was supposed to be on 9/2 only --- gh]. End of pre-game show with play-by- play of All Ireland Hurling Final (Limerick vs. Kilkenny) with Jimmy MacGee. Half time program around 1508 with numerous ads for Irish Daily Mirror, car insurance, In Touch Magazine, Dublin Adult Learning Center, etc. Second half started at tune out. Poor to fair and only frequency noted. Thanks to Mike Barraclough for the advanced notice of the match (Rich D'Angelo, Wyomissing, PA, Ten-Tec RX-340, Drake R-8B, Eton E1, Lowe HF-150, Eton E5, Alpha Delta DX Sloper, RF Systems Mini- Windom, Datong FL3, JPS ANC-4, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) 17860, "IRELAND." RTE via Merlin, 1355, 9/2/07. Sked GAA All-Ireland Hurling Final coverage, many breaks for Radio 1 promos, PSA's, "Weekend Sports" segment. Stayed with it and much improved by 1450 with rapid play by play. This is the only frequency of those listed with any usable audio (John Herkimer, Caledonia, NY, NRD-535D (Kiwa), etón E1-XM, 100 ft longwire, ibid.) ** ISRAEL. 6976, Galei Zahal, 2020-2025, captada el 3 de septiembre en hebreo, locutor con entrevista a invitado, SINPO 33343. Se aprecia en el día de hoy un ligero desplazamiento de su habitual frecuencia, 6973, en el transcurso de la tarde se a desplazado de los 6974 que estaba en torno a las 1730 a los 6976 de ahora. Sin emisión en 15785 y frecuencias adyacentes. 73 (José Miguel Romero, Burjasot (Valencia), España, Sangean ATS 909, Radio Master A-108, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6974.8 at 2041 UT (Roberto Scaglione, Sicily, Sept 3, bclnews.it yg via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH. Corea del Norte. Tras las devastadoras calamidades naturales que azotaron ese país asiático parece que ha sufrido daños uno de los centros de radiodifusión norcoreano. Las emisiones para Europa fueron reanudadas apenas el pasado 19 de agosto. Se trata de los transmisores en las frecuencias de 4405, 13760 y 15245 kilohercios en que se emiten programas en varios idiomas extranjeros. Los programas en español se inician a las 19.00 y a las 22.00 horas (Rumen Pankov, Versión en español: Mijail Mijailov, R. Bulgaria Espacio Diexista Sept 3 via José Miguel Romero, dxldyg via DXLD) 4405, Voice of Korea. 18/8 was silent on freqs 4405, 13760, 15245 to Western Europe (probably due to the typhoon, rains etc.), but service to ME and N Africa was on the air on 3560, 9975, 9990, 11535, 11545 (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria, Sony ICF 2001 and Folded Marconi, Sept Australian DX News via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH [and non]. 1053, Pyongyang Branch of the Anti- imperialist National Democratic Front This is information out of the 2007 edition of WRTH. Broadcasts on these frequencies, 1053-3480-4450-4557, claim to be transmitted from the Republic of Korea, but are actually transmitted by DPR Korea. The Pyongyang Branch of the Anti-imperialist National Democratic Front broadcasts are jammed by the Republic of Korea. Mailing addresses are in Pyongyang and also one in Japan for QSLs. I do not know when these broadcasts started. They have been heard here last season and this season. I believe someone mentioned that the transmitter is on an island in DPR Korea. Here in Vancouver the audio from the broadcast is stronger than the bubble jammer. The signal is stronger now than last August, maybe because conditions are better? Would not be surprised if you could hear this one around late September or October. I know others have more experience with these broadcasts than I do -- maybe they could post too? (Dennis Vroomski, Vancover, WA, Sept 2, IRCA via DXLD) Hi, Dennis. The jammer is heard more often here in Victoria than the actual broadcaster, although occasionally I can hear both. On the Charlottes, I remember hearing mostly the broadcaster (Walt Salmaniw, BC, ibid.) Dennis, I was wondering about the frequency. I think you said it was 1056. I have been following this station since 1975 when I first heard it while I was living in Korea. There were on 1050 then, if memory serves me. The transmitter is on the West Coast of North Korea in Haeju. The station's name has changed several times, but it always has been pretending to be broadcasting from South Korea even though it is anti-South. Thus it is called a clandestine station. I have located several of the South Korean jammers, and I have some pictures of one of the jammer sites somewhere in the dozens of boxes of pictures I have taken over the years. I have seen as many as three carriers on 1053 right at my local sunrise a couple of times. It is a good bet I had them along with the South Korean jammers (Bill Harms, MD, ibid.) Bill, Thanks for telling the history of this station pretending to be from the Republic of Korea. If conditions this season are as good as expected, maybe you might get some audio from 1053. There are 4 clandestine stations that broadcast to DPR Korea. I saw a documentary a while back about an eye doctor that went to DPR Korea to do surgery on about 100 people that were nearly blind. His team only had a week to perform the surgeries. They completed all of the surgeries and the patients could see again. The patients walk over to two pictures on the wall and thank their beloved leader Kim Jong-Il and his father Kim Il-Sung for curing them. If they would have thanked the doctor and his team first, I'm sure they would have been detained later. Anyway the film crew was able to sneak some film footage of the average North Korean. They are issued radios with the frequency set of North Korean stations only. Makes one wonder how many North Koreans can hear the broadcasts from other countries? (Dennis, Vancover, WA, ibid.) This one hasn't ever been heard at home by me, Dennis, though a number of years ago it was occasionally logged on the coast, using one of the SW parallels. In recent years, the bubble jammer and JOAR have traded places when I've been at the coast, and I believe that also was all that was heard when visiting Japan in the spring. (my notes are at home; I'm not) I wonder if this has been reactivated, or upgraded, because I thought I'd read somewhere (source unknown at the moment; perhaps Bruce Portzer could chime in) that it was off the air. Perhaps it was using a south facing directional antenna that has become omnidirectional Best wishes, (Nick Hall-Patch, Victoria BC, ibid.) Nick, I could be hearing JOAR and not the PDR Korea station. When the signal is heard on 1053 it is always very weak or weak at best. Also, I can only ID Japanese on a NHK station, hi. Now that I have the shortwave //s, they will be compared against the 1053 MW signal. Thanks for the information, Nick (Dennis, Vancouver, WA, ibid.) Perhaps you overlooked this item in a recent DX Listening Digest, 7- 103 of August 27. Firedrake on 1053 reported from Japan, just to confuse matters. But why? Hard to believe China would be involved in the N/S Korea radio war on the side of S Korea, as Firedrake has only been used so far against enemy broadcasts of the PRC. You might well now hear the Firedrake (raucous Chinese opera music with lots of percussion, as used on many SW frequencies for jamming) on 1053, rather than the N Korean station. I haven`t heard it myself, but I assume the previously reported `jamming` on 1053 is of the noise variety. 73, (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) Glenn, Thanks for posting the item in DX Listening Digest. Very interesting area of the world (Dennis, Vancouver, WA, ibid.) There was talk of this broadcast leaving the air a few years ago. As I recall, it had to do with some agreement or treaty between North and South Korea. There may have been a date established for these (and possibly other) broadcasts to end, but for whatever reason it never happened. I've heard the South Korean jammer many times but never knowingly heard the North Korean broadcasts, though I might've mistaken it for the Japanese station (Bruce Portzer, WA, ibid.) Bill, I know that ROK students are a pretty volatile group. Some of them seem downright loony. Do they have anything to do with the reasoning behind ROK operating that delightfully goofy jammer on 1053? Why would anyone in ROK give a good root-n-toot about ANYTHING that DPRK broadcasts, aside from interference aspects? (Charles A Taylor, WD4INP Greenville, North Carolina, Sept 3, IRCA via DXLD) Charlie, the South Korean government has been anti-North since the 1940's and this is part a legacy of that. Plus there are some people in the South who could be persuaded for whatever reason by listening to the broadcasts. But I think you are right, most South Koreans could care less. If someone really wanted to listen to North Korean broadcasts in South Korea, you could listen to SW or go to the countryside. In my view, the jamming is more symbolic than anything else. This is the URL for my North Korean clips http://dxclipjoint.com//bill/korea/north_korea/ (Bill Harms, MD, ibid.) ** KURDISTAN. 4366, CLANDESTINE. Voice of Revolution. 1533 ID "Dengi Shurashi Kurdistana Irana" in Kurdish, next played the communist hymn in instrumental version "The International". Before 1533 was IS with motives from suite "Sheherazada" by N. R. Korsakov. Close/Down at 1633, next break and at 1657 s/on with IS with motives from the ballet "Nutcracker" by P. I. Tchaikovsky. At 1701 began the program of the Iranian Communist Party but strong jammed by Iran (sometimes irregular, seems to be // on 3801 khz. 28/08 (Hmm, instead of celebrating my birthday on 28/08 I am with receiver). (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria, Sony ICF 2001 and Folded Marconi, Sept Australian DX News via DXLD) ** KURDISTAN. 6335, Already big signal of radio Voice of Iraqi Kurdistan broadcasting in Kurdish, seldom in Arabic and Turkmen, seems increased tx power? Heard regularly 0345-0430 f/out and 1200* at 1358, for example on 26/8 (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria, Sony ICF 2001 and Folded Marconi, Sept Australian DX News via DXLD) IRAQ. 6335, Voice of Iraqi Kurdistan, 0242-0310, Sept 3, Presumed. Tune-in to Kor`an. Talk in local language at 0255 with short breaks of local music. Poor. Weak with RTTY QRM (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LIBYA. Re 7-106: Libya has been monitored on Sept. 2nd and 3rd with the following results: 1200-1400 17600 21695(tent) Swahili 1400-1600 17870 21695(tent) English 1600-1800 11835 15660 French 1800-2000 9590 11835 Hausa 2000-2140+ 11835 Arabic I can hear a signal on 21695 but not loud enough to positively ID it. The Arabic transmission at 2000 was IDing as on pp 457 of the current WRTH. Frequency 9590 went off at 2000 and no replacement was found - but that doesn't mean there wasn't one somewhere. Today (the 3rd) 17600 had carrier and continuous tone prior to opening on the hour. There was also a Swahili language programme same time on 17870 which turned out to be NHK via ASC. A carrier appeared shortly after 1400 on 17870 but didn't modulate, and went off air. English was not heard today - nor on any other 17 MHz frequency. Despite TDF - ISS registrations, my feeling is that all are via a Libyan site (Noel R. Green (NW England), Sept 3, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 9599.29, R. UNAM, 0030, 8/28/07. Tune-in to extended organ composition followed by vocal selection. ID and announcements at TOH into short news/comment break. Audio out at 0130 but per other reports came back later. Near arm chair S7 signal (Jerry Strawman - Des Moines, IA - AOR AR7030+ - 60M Dipole, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) 9599.29, R. UNAM, 0306, 8/28/07. Fair with man talking in Spanish; some rather strange music; ID at 0318. Thanks to Jerry Strawman for the tip (Jim Ronda, Tulsa, OK, NRD-545, R-75, E-1; Eavesdropper, GMDSS-2 vertical, two homebrew FlexTennas, ibid.) ** MOLDAVIA/MOLDOVA: see PRIDNESTROVYE ** NETHERLANDS. Re 7-106: Ciao! listened yesterday evening 01 September: 1008 kHz, 2245-2259, GrootNieuws Radio, no stop music, evangelic modern songs, (I miss the good old pops songs of 10 Gold !!!!!) ID by Man voice prerecorded "GrootNieuws Radio" (Dario Monferini, Milano, DEGEN 1103, playdx yg via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS ANTILLES. Felix becomes 'major' storm in Caribbean . . .Felix's hurricane force winds extended out only 15 miles (30 km) and tropical storm force winds 115 miles (185 km), meaning Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles experienced gusty conditions but not the full fury of the storm. The 2007 hurricane season, expected to be a busy one, is approaching its peak. Most storms hit from August 20 to mid- October, with September 10 marking the statistical height of the season. http://www.stuff.co.nz:80/4187557a12.html (via Mike Terry, England, dxldyg via DXLD) Has anyone tried R. Nederland's Bonaire relay today? (Richard Lewis, MS, ibid.) 15315 is on OK now at 2053 Sept 2 (Glenn Hauser, OK, ibid.) It seems like R. Nederland's facilities in Bonaire didn't get destroyed by Hurricane Felix. I heard R. Nederland at 9845 at 0040- 0057 carrying on like nothing happened. And I could get it on 9845 with a little noise at 0100-0110 (Richard Lewis, Forest, MS, Grundig G4000A, ibid.) RNW BONAIRE ESCAPES DAMAGE BY HURRICANE FELIX We are relieved to report that Hurricane Felix, which passed close to the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba yesterday, spared the Dutch islands from serious damage. The eye of the hurricane passed by about 100 km to the north of the islands, sparing them from the worst effects. The islands were well prepared, and our relay station on Bonaire had an evacuation plan in place to cope with the worst case scenario. Fortunately it was not needed. Only one hour of transmission - the 1100-1200 UTC English to North America on 11675 kHz - was lost. You can see some pictures of the scene in Curaçao and Aruba on our Antillen/Aruba website http://antilliaans.caribiana.nl/curacao_bonaire/car20070902_felix1 (September 3rd, 2007 - 9:29 UTC by Andy, Media Network blog via DXLD) [and non]. Sept 3 update: http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/09/03/ap4076864.html (Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. What has happened to channel 34? [KOCB, OKC] It`s been off the air for three days now. This station carried some of my favorite shows such as Jerry Springer and Cheaters (Mike Krauss, Sept 1, okctalk via DXLD) I think they are changing over to their new tower. If you have a digital television, you can get them on 25.2 or you can get them on satellite or cable. I went to the station today to take some pictures http://blog.paulmccord.net/2007/07/01/new-kocb-tower/ and the Oklahoma County Sheriff told me they had already cut power from the old tower. The new tower is more than 1600 feet while the other one was 1200 feet (Paul McCord, Jr., ibid.) [from above blog including photo:] The last month or so I have noticed when I get a clear spot in the trees a new tower in North Oklahoma City. It has the candelabra style on the top and is about 15 miles north of my house. Yesterday after breakfast I decided I would drive up there to see it and when I arrived, I found that it was at the old KOCB Channel 34 building. It is only about 75 feet away from its other tower as you can see on the left. I actually watched them install the antenna on the left back in 1978 or 1979 when I was 13. I forgot to take my camera so I used my camera phone. I got out of the car and took this photo among others. There was an Oklahoma County Sheriff that was standing guard and he allowed me to walk up to the tower that is still under construction. He also allowed me to go inside the building. He told me the tower on the left would be disassembled and taken down when the new one is finished. He told me that KRXO-FM, KOCB-TV, KTUZ-TV and a few more FM radio stations would be on this tower when it is finished. That was really nice of him to allow me to take pictures. He told me that I could not take pictures from inside the building but I did get to see the new transmitters, and huge dummy load. It was very entertaining (Paul McCord, Jr., via ibid.) ** PAKISTAN. QSL Received Last Week (27th August – 01st September 2007) Station: - Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation Date: - 10-08-2007 Frequency: - 9340 kHz Time: - 0100-0115 UT Language: - English Description: - Verified by Mr. S. Waheed. View of the Alamgiri Gate, Shahi Fort, Lahore (Mukesh Kumar, Bihar, India, DX LISTENING DIGEST) So we indirectly have confirmation that this ``Assamese`` broadcast at 0045-0115 is still partly in English (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** PARAGUAY. Il Paraguay è oggi totalmente inascoltabile. Fino a qualche anno fa si riceveva con regolarità la Radio Nacional sulla frequenza di 9737 kHz. Oggi il trasmettitore è spento e nessun segnale ci arriva, che io sappia sulle onde medie. Provate ugualmente ogni tanto a monitorare i 9737, potrebbe darsi che magari l'emittente venga riattivata. . . .Si era cosi terminato, cena in hotel con Gustavo Duran e poi il trasferimento notturno da Santa Fe ad Asunción in Paraguay. Si partiva verso le 22.15 e già alle 9 (arrivando dall'Argentina si tira indietro l'orologio di 1 ora) di mercoledì 8 agosto eravamo nella capitale paraguaya. Subito in albergo a depositare i nostri bagagli e poi via.. verso la nostra prima meta, un mito della radiodiffusione latino-americana in onde corte, Radio Nacional de Paraguay. Li eravamo accolti in modo veramente amichevole e caloroso da tutti i presenti compreso il Direttore Tecnico, il Señor Raúl Ánibal Varios che si intratteneva molto volentieri a rispondere alle nostre domande sul perché della fine delle trasmissioni su onde corte. Il motivo è semplicissimo: si è guastata una valvola e per sostituirla occorrono 10.000 $ U.S.A. che il governo paraguayo per ora non ha intenzione di sborsare (speriamo nella prossima finanziaria). Visitavamo gli studi dell'onda media 920 KHz e del servizio in FM 95.1 MHz, scattavamo un po' di foto ma come era logico attendersi i materiali promozionali erano esauriti da anni (excerpt by gh of Roberto Pavanello`s August travel diary, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** PERU. 4790.2, R. Visión, Chiclayo, 0520-0618, 1 Sept. Religious discourse, hymns, "Radio Visión, grupo de, en la casa de Dios, iglesia" and what sounded like a URL. More songs 'til 0557. "La palabra de Dios, La Voz de la Salvación", list of names (?), 0559 ID: "estás escuchando La Voz de la Salvación", into dramatization of Bible story of 7,000 demons, a herd of pigs & a cliff in the vicinity of the town of Cana. 0614: "a través la radio a su hogar, el programa, La Voz de la Salvación" and mention of revival service next day. Signal fair to VG except for $*^&@!!?_% CODAR (Dan Sheedy, Cardiff, CA R75/Kiwa, 120' random WOR (wire on roof), dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4790.15, 0330-0555, 01+02-09 R Visión, Chiclayo reactivated, Spanish religious talks, hymns, frequent time announcements (UT -5) transmissions from mass each night with a priest shouting "Gloria, Gloria, Gloria -- Halleluyah" for half an hour and the congregation crying, 0436 complete R Visión ID, announced 4790 kHz, 34333, weaker on 02 Sep: 25232 (Anker Petersen, Denmark on the AOR AR7030PLUS with 28 metres of longwire, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** PERU. 6019.49, Radio Victoria, Lima, 0745-0800+, Sept 2, Spanish religious talk. Lite instrumental music. Weak. Very weak on // 9720.04 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PRIDNESTROVYE [and non]. Re: Radio PMR expands international broadcast schedule: ``These broadcasts certainly make DST one-hour timeshifts, but to claim to serve North America is ludicrous, and the `tons` of reports they get must be from somewhere else.`` This claim originates from the circumstance that these shortwave transmissions go out via an antenna designed to serve North America. Back in the nineties Radio Pridnestrovye was during the late evening on a frequency which afterwards switched to Radio Moscow and stayed on air throughout the night, basically the outlet that is nowadays on 9665/7180 (summer/winter). Certainly the station was always heard primarily in Europe. Does anybody still remember the Moldovian jamming against Radio Pridnestrovye during the early/mid nineties? Back then Radio Pridnestrovye programming went out on 999 which they now sell for good $$$ to "western" broadcasters. I could not hear much of it because at this time the co-channel Hoyerswerda transmitter was still active, but the roaring/hissing noise of the jamming was very present here as well. This jamming signal must have been transmitted with substantial power; I think it had been speculated that the 150 kW transmitter at Chisinau, meant for 873, had been used to jam 999, thus 873 was off. Re. the current story: Gist is apparently that 549 is simply on air for much more time of the day than before now, carrying what goes out via FM anyway (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Sept 3, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) MOLDAVIA, 5965: At present noted Radio PMR in German at 1620 UT (Mondays & Wednesdays), huge signal of S=9+10dB. PMR warm up at 1550 UT, 1600-1640 UT scheduled. And CRI Cerrik relay in German on adjacent 5970 kHz too. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, Mon Sept 3, dxldydg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio PMR strong on clear channel here September 3 at 1622 tune in on 5965, nothing on 6235, news bulletin in German, identification, address and off at 1641 (Mike Barraclough, England, ibid.) MOLDAVIA, 5965, R. DMR (PRIDNESTROVYE), 1630-1640, captada el 3 de septiembre en alemán, locutor con boletín de noticias, cuña de identificación y dirección postal, sintonía, SINPO 45444. 73 (José Miguel Romero, Burjasot (Valencia), España, Sangean ATS 909, Radio Master A-108, ibid.) ** RUSSIA. 7200, Radio Rossii (Yakutsk / Sakha) (Presumed), 1153-1200, 9/1/07, in Russian. 2 M's, pop type music, M talk, pass announcements to W at ToH, R. Rossii ID. Good (no wobbling transmitter this AM). (Mark Taylor, Lake Farm County Park, Dane Co., WI ­ mini DXpedition, Etón E1; Radio Master P-30, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. 9480, Voz de Rusia en español, sin señal en 7310 y 12040. ¿Nuevo o accidental? Saludos cordiales. Hoy 2 de septiembre a las 2015 estoy escuchando un servicio en español de la Voz de Rusia en la frecuencia de 9480 con una excelente señal, SINPO 45554. Observo que no hay emisión en 7310 ni en 12040; tampoco encuentro listado esta frecuencia, ni en Aoki, ni en EiBi, tampoco en la página web de La Voz de Rusia. ¿Se trata de una nueva frecuencia o una emisión accidental? 73 (José Miguel Romero, Burjasot (Valencia), España, Sangean ATS 909, Radio Master A-108, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9480 VOR has been registered to start Sept 2, at 19-21, the day after RNW Flevo DRM was finished with it at 2000-2057. 7310 is still on the books, but not 12040 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Caro José, Um pouco mais tarde, às 2120 UT, do mesmo dia, também captei a Voz da Rússia, nesta freqüência [9480], só que em português. O sinal, aqui no Sul do Brasil, no entanto, sofria forte interferência de uma estação que transmitia em chinês. Só pude perceber que era em português, pois o locutor (acho que é o Vitali Ghinatiuk!) possui, diríamos, "um português que se aproxima do castiço", mesmo sendo russo de nascimento. 73s, (Célio Romais, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil, radioescutas yg via DXLD) Yes, CRI via Xi`an is scheduled on 9480 after 2100, 255 degrees (gh) New Voz de Russia schedule for autumn 2007, started September 2nd. 11630 til Sept 1st, (9480 from Sept 2nd) 1700-2100 250 kW Moscow tx til Sep 1 from Sep 2nd Site Target Spanish 2030-2100 11630 9480 Moscow Europe Spanish 2030-2100 7310 7310 Moscow Europe Spanish 0000-0100 603 603 Germany Europe Portuguese 2000-2030 11630 9480 Moscow Europe Portuguese 2000-2030 7310 7310 Moscow Europe Portuguese 2300-0000 603 603 Germany Europe Russian WS 1700-1800 11630 9480 Moscow Europe Russian WS 1700-1800 11630 9480 Moscow Baltic States English 1800-1900 11630 9480 Moscow Europe Russian WS 1900-2000 11630 9480 Moscow Europe Russian WS 1900-2000 11630 9480 Moscow Baltic States (Wolfgang Büschel, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Saludos Wolfgang, hay que tener en cuenta que el servicio en español de la Voz de Rusia para Europa es de 2000 a 2100 UT. Según este esquema emitiría por 7310, 9480 y 11630. No entiendo muy bien este cambio: 1º Hasta la fecha el servicio en 7310 parece inoperativo ya que RFI en 7315 anula prácticamente esta frecuencia. 2º Eliminar la frecuencia de 12040 no parece buena solución ya que que entraba muy bien aquí en España. 3º Poner el servicio en 11630 puede acarrear problemas con CNR 1. 11630 CNR 1 2000-2400 1234567 Chinese 100 286 Lingshi 725 CHN 11140E3652 CNR1 a07 [Aoki] Creo que sería más efectivo para el servicio en español de La Voz de Rusia de 2000 a 2100 con las frecuencias de 9480 y 12040, y buscar reemplazo para 7310. 73 (José Miguel Romero, Spain, ibid.) 9480, Voz de Rusia, 2000-2005, captada el 3 de septiembre en español, locutor con boletín de noticias, emisión en paralelo por 7310, SINPO 45544. La frecuencia de 7310 con un SINPO 22442. Por la frecuencia de 11630 no se aprecia emisión de La Voz de Rusia, sin embargo se capta la emisión en Chino de CNR 1 con un SINPO 35443. Tampoco hay emisión en 12040. Todo parece indicar que VOR de 2000-2100 en español por 7310 y 9480. La frecuencia de 11630 falta confirmar. 73 (José Miguel Romero, Burjasot (Valencia), España, Sangean ATS 909 Radio Master A- 108, ibid.) ** RUSSIA. 7325, The unidentified station, non-registered everywhere, operating only on Sundays 1800-1900 (under BBC in Russian) is Adygey Radio from Maykop (12/8). I recorded on the tape the National Anthems played at beginning of the broadcasts. On Mondays, Fridays at 1700 and Sundays at 1800 hours the Anthem is same (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria, Sony ICF 2001 and Folded Marconi, Sept Australian DX News via DXLD) ** SPAIN. Cadena SER en DRM --- Sigue la cadena SER con sus test en DRM desde Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid. El esquema actual es: 1260 Khz 24 horas todos los días de la semana en DRM. 1251 Khz, han abandonado esa frecuencia para test, está libre y por la noche llega Libia. Este fin de semana he viajado a Cuenca, y he podido comprobar la terrible interferencia entre Radio Murcia y la SER con sus test en 1260. Siempre he opinado que la mayor fuente de interferencias de la radio española es ella misma. Saludos (Juan Antonio Arranz, Sept 3, playdx yg via DXLD) ** SUDAN [non]. 11945, Tentative, Southern Sudan Interactive R. Instruction via Kigali. Very weak signal in measured English, 0643 28/8 (Charles Jones, Castle Hill NSW, (Icom R75 and 7m vertical antenna, Sept Australian DX News via DXLD) ** TAIWAN. 9410, Fu Hsing Broadcasting (Kuanyin) (Presumed), 1239, 9/1/07, in Mandarin. W speaking at length. Good (Mark Taylor, Lake Farm County Park, Dane Co., WI ­ mini DXpedition, Etón E1; Radio Master P-30, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) Seldom reported, or easy to overlook? Aoki has this A07 as 10 kW, daily at 23-01, 04-06, 08-10, 11-13 (gh, DXLD) ** UGANDA. 4976, Uganda B.C., Kampala. Weak signal and very noisy on 13/8. Afro song and music went on for ages without a break! Heard from 2042 to 2050, and still going (Dennis Allen, Milperra NSW, Icom R75, Dipole, Sept Australian DX News via DXLD) Opens at 0200 on 28/8 but in WRTH is given 0300, whether in Uganda is there already DST? In the program were phone calls from the listeners in English (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria, Sony ICF 2001 and Folded Marconi, Sept Australian DX News via DXLD) DST = ludicrous in tropix ** U K. BBC Radio 1, 2 and 4, 40th anniversary programmes --- Radios 1, 2, 3 and 4 celebrate their 40th anniversaries on September 30th; some special programmes have been announced by the BBC. Annie Nightingale's Request Show on BBC Radio 1 is making a come back - but for one night only. Annie will host the special edition on September 30th, to mark the stations 40th anniversary. The show originally ran from 1982 till 1994 and was quite a big hit with listeners. Annie told BBC.co.uk: "From week one the requests came in by the sack load," said the 65-year-old. Throughout the years, listeners used a variety of props to get their demands noticed - with requests submitted on a house brick, a paper prayer mat and the rubber end of a shower attachment. For me, getting so much mail - so many hilarious, poignant, witty, daring communications - was like Christmas every week, I read every single one and I loved doing that." Much more at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/annienightingale/requestshow.shtml and requests can be emailed to annie.nightingale @ bbc.co.uk by September 23rd. Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse are to resurrect their spoof Djs Smashie and Nicey for a one-off Pick of the Pops special to mark the 40th birthday of Radio 2. The pair, whose last full-length screen outing was in 1994, will present the classic hits chart rundown in tribute to Alan "Fluff" Freeman, the show's former host who died earlier this year. Radio 2 controller Lesley Douglas said: "It occurred to me that we could do it and it did not take long to get Harry and Paul signed up. Harry Enfield had been so affected by Alan Freeman's death, I thought he would want to do it as a tribute to Fluff." The Pick of the Pops special is part of a day of programmes to mark the 40th anniversary of Radio 2, due to be broadcast on September 30. Radio 2's 40th birthday output will also include a repeated episode of the Kenny Everett Radio Show from 1981 and several programmes which aired during the station's first week on air, including a live performance of Paul Simon's I Am a Rock and another classic Radio 2 show, Semprini Serenade. The station's first presenter, Paul Hollingdale, will also return 40 years after he played the first song broadcast on the station, The Sound of Music. Stephen Fry has teamed up with Matt Lucas to make Radio 4 - This Is Your Life, a comedy special to celebrate the 40th birthday of the radio station. The show, recorded live in front of an audience at the newly refurbished Radio Theatre in Broadcasting House, features Fry as the narrator and Lucas as "Radio 4" and traces the history of the station from 1967 to the present day. It includes appearances from John Humphrys, Sue Lawley, Jonathan Dimbleby, Barry Cryer, James Naughtie, Martin Jarvis and Rabbi Lionel Blue. Radio 4 says the show is an "irreverent satirical romp", featuring affectionate digs at some of Radio 4's longest-running shows, including Today and The Archers. It also features Sue Perkins, Michael Fenton Stevens, Dave Lamb and Richie Webb. The show will air on September 30, part of a series of programmes marking the station's 40th anniversary. Documentary 4 at Forty will look at how the station has changed over the years, from a mixture of drama, magazine shows, classical music and schools programming into the network it is today. "As well as reflections from some of the people who've looked after the network over the years, there'll be highlights - and lowlights - of the network's history (who now remembers Citizens?) and a national search for the soul of Radio 4," said the station. Flowers In The Rain on Radio 4, will trace the story of the first record played on Radio 1, Flowers in the Rain will be presented by Tony Blackburn, who played the song on the first Radio 1 breakfast show (via Mike Barraclough, Sept World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** U S A. VOA needs English (translations). "The problem is that the [Broadcasting Board of Governors] cannot properly oversee VOA because— get this — the agency does not produce English transcripts of its broadcasts. Let me say that another way: The agency tasked with overseeing the broadcasts that American taxpayers pay to create cannot do its job because the broadcasts aren't translated into our native language." (Doug Wilson., Townhall.com, 3 September 2007 via kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD) Back translation of all VOA content would introduce a huge bureaucracy, rivaling in cost the broadcasting effort itself. A more fiscally responsible solution: 1) Hire good journalists, proficient in the language, as language service chiefs, 2) maintain a program review process that evaluates a random selection of the service's content, 3) respond to complaints as they occur, and 4) continue to keep audio files of all content in each language. It has been said that a live video stream of Alhurra would be too expensive. But why not an audio stream? Posted: 03 Sep 2007 (Kim Andrew Elliott, ibid.) ** U S A [non]. Cercano Oriente. Probablemente carezcan de veracidad las noticias que se han divulgado sobre el cierre parcial y el cambio del nombre de la emisora Juntos, o sea Saua, en idioma árabe. La emisora fue captada con 4 programas musicales diferentes hasta las 0015 horas cuando se transmitió un noticiero general en que la emisora se anunció como Radio Saua (Rumen Pankov, Versión en español: Mijail Mijailov, R. Bulgaria Espacio Diexista Sept 3 via José Miguel Romero, dxldyg via DXLD) He`s talking about what we spell Radio Sawa, but WTFK? Surely not SW, abandoned years ago. We already know it has a few different streams with music, not news designed to appeal to different regional audiences. Who said it was partially closed or changed name?? He`s constantly making oblique references to other reports being wrong, without citing sources; and news on the RB program always runs a few weeks late (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Re radio road signs, colors: Yeah but if (as in the case of Florida, at least) they are all PBS/NPR stations, I'm sure it's gratis. Also, don't forget white on brown which are not paid-for but often indicate state and national parks (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** URUGUAY. Ben più difficile l'ascolto dell'Uruguay. Le sue emittenti sulle onde corte vengono a volte segnalate in Nord Europa ma in Italia è da anni che non ricordo segnalazioni. Sulle medie a volte qualcosa arriva. Provate in piena nottata i 930 kHz ove da Montevideo opera Radio Montecarlo (nulla a che fare con la monegasca, pura omonimia) o i 1470 kHz di Radio Cristal. Se ci riuscite sarete molto bravi e fortunati!!! Toccava ora ad un colosso della radiodiffusione uruguayana Radio El Espectador 810 kHz e alla sua gemellina FM Urbana FM 92.5 MHz. Sono molto legato a Radio El Espectador in quanto, quando sotto la precedente gestione operava anche sulle onde corte, nella banda dei 25 metri, è quella che mi ha permesso, con la sua QSL di confermare l'Uruguay, unica stazione radio uruguayana che sia riuscito a confermare in 35 anni di radioascolto. La pacchia non poteva continuare, ed infatti da Radio Sodre, l'emittente governativa operante sull'onda media di 650 e 1290 kHz, nonché sull'FM di 97.1 MHz e sull'onda corta di 6125 e 9620 kHz nulla riuscivamo ottenere se non un colloquio di 3 minuti col responsabile tecnico in piedi alla reception. Ci confermava la continuazione delle trasmissioni in onda corta ma con potenze che fanno si che in Italia sia pura utopia sperare di sintonizzarle (excerpt by gh of Roberto Pavanello`s August travel diary, via Dario Monferini, playdx yg via DXLD) ** WESTERN SAHARA [non]. R. N. Saharaui, español. ¿Cancelado? Saludos cordiales. ARGELIA, 6300, Radio Nacional Saharaui, 1701-1715, captada el 3 de septiembre en árabe, comienza emisión con el himno nacional, locutor con presentación en árabe y canto del Corán, segmento musical, SINPO 45343. 73 (José Miguel Romero, Burjasot (Valencia), España, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) No, aún otra vez cambiado a las 23: CLANDESTINE / W. SAHARA. 1550 & 6300 noted yesterday, 02 Sept, in Castilian 2300-2400 again, ex-1700-1800. Today, 3rd Sep, the broadcast did open in Arabic at 1700, starting with the usual Kor`anic prayer for almost 15 minutes. This is probably their Winter schedule arrangement, so maybe even their other (3rd) outlet of 700 is activated too. 1550 kHz is audible, albeit poorly, right from sign-on 1700, then does improve steadily - I'm getting an S7 signal at 1730 either via the 41 m inverted V or via the elevated K9AY. On the SW coast, their signal at *1700 is a lot stronger than over here at home in Lisbon (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Gracias Glenn, veremos si confirma la cancelación del servicio a las 1700 o por el contrario ha sido una emisión accidental. 73 (José Miguel, dxldyg via DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE. 4828, ZBC, Gweru, 0020-0055, Sept 3, continuous traditional African choral music. Poor with CODAR QRM. // 3396-weak but in the clear (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Re 7-106, 1181 kHz: Also noted 0905-0920 9/2. Definite tone with Spanish audio underneath WHAM nulled partially (not quite) for best recovery. Tone strength variance via fading // to Spanish audio. Best direxion with the G5 is 175-185 degrees signal, 265-275 degrees null. Said WHAM nulls about 280-290 degrees. 23222 SINPO (Paul Shaffer, Cheshire CT, 41.5N, 72.9W, using G5 barefoot, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 4750, 1325-1401 tune-out 1 Sept. and 1250-1406*(?) 2 Sept. 1 Sept. tune-in to interview with live crowd, some English phrases ("thank you very much"), into mix of English pop & what sounded like Indo/Malay pop, no break at BoH. Mention of "Nasional" at 1400 & back into pop music. Gone by 1406 recheck. 2 Sept. tune-in to flute/gong/hollow log drum music mixing with CNR-1 Xi`an, mention of "Nasional" at 1300, but no pips/SCI (I wish). 1315 call-in show with W, each call answered with "hello" & occasional use of "OK" & "yeah". Language sounds Malay/Indo. Euro-pop/"local" music. Mention of "lapaan lapaan, dua" a lot at 1335. More music mix to 1356: "salaam aleikum", more phones calls to 1400, quick announcement & W vocal & apparently off at 1406. If it's any help, on 1 Sept. RTM-6049.7 was quite good & 2 Sept. what I think may be Kuching-5030 was solid under CNR-1 at 1410. (Initially, I thought 4750 might be RRI-Makassar, but no SCI at ToH & language sounded a little "harder" than regular Bahasa Indonesia (Dan Sheedy, Cardiff, CA R75/Kiwa, 120' random WOR (wire on roof), dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Dan, Sept 3 at 1239, tuned in to hear pop music program, continued through ToH. This format with a YL DJ and the ones you heard certainly are consistent with RTM/Malaysia programming. Not // with Klasik Nacional FM or Asyik FM programming. Also noted signal improving after 1300, but CNR-1 (// 4800 & 5030), which was heard under the unID, also began to improve at a faster rate, making any ID impossible. By 1328 they were completely mixing together. Not sure what this could be, but it is a big deal now for Malaysia, marking their 50th year of independence. They have some special events planned and I wonder if RRI could be relaying a Malaysian program? Please look at this for one special event: http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v3/news.php?id=281810 (Ron Howard, CA, Etón E1, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also CHINA for 4750 logs (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LANGUAGE LESSONS ++++++++++++++++ Concepção. Dear Glenn, I hope the following may throw a little more light into those words... and "conceitos", concepts. Re. DXLD 7-098 of 16 Aug: IMMACULATE CONCEPTION SPELLING NOT TOO CERTAIN IN PORTUGUESE >>> indeed, "inmaculada" is Castilian, not Portuguese, which is "imaculada." >>> the Latin roots often generated slightly different words, e.g. >>> "concepção" in the sense of to conceive, to design, whereas "Conceição" is a name, just like one of my family names, Assunção [old Port. Assumpção, still used in the 20th cent. though] which means assumption, BUT in religious terms, it is applied the same way as "concepção." >>> "conceito" (=concept) clearly derives from concepção, just like verb "conceber", to conceive. >>> another simple ex. is "facto" (Latin factum), fact in English, which the Brazilians write "fato"; now, Portuguese "fato" has the typical meaning of men's suit, but also extended to the women clothes when one refers to a "fato de saia e casaco" (=skirt & jacket suit). Re 7-093, BRAZIL log: ``4754.90, 2345-0105, R Inmaculada Concepçao`` I was about to correct the spelling on this to Conceição, which is the way I see it spelt in Brasil, but to my surprise when I looked it up in my Langenscheidt Pocket PT/EG dixionary, which purports to favor Brazilian usage, the only spelling was Concepção, so I left it. I should have anyway put in the ã and corrected the other word to Imaculada, since Inmaculada is Spanish, not Portuguese. Now I see another log of it by a native Brazilian: 4755 - 11/08 - 2035 - R. Imaculada Conceição, C[am]po Grande, MS, programa religioso, 35433 (Paschoal Francisco Fideli, Membro do DX Clube do Brasil, Aclimação - São Paulo - SP, radioescutas yg via DXLD)`` >>> I wonder why "Campo Grande" is shown as "C[am]po Grande". All right, it's often abbreviated to "C.Grande", "Cpo. Grande" or even "Cpº Grande." [I put in the [am] to show the full word --- gh] >>> "Paschoal", a derivative from Páscoa (Easter), is old Port., currently written "Pascoal." ``Perhaps the -cep- spelling is really Lusitanian rather than Brazilian? BTW, Brasilians would be inclined to insert a vowel such as -i- between the p and ç when pronouncing, if not spelling it, but making it -ceiç- in the first place avoids this tongue-twisting. A book Carlos Gonçalves sent me about European Portuguese shows both spellings, but in concepção the p is silent. That apparently has led to the alternate spelling, but in that case I don`t see the need for the i; why not just conceção?`` >>> Portuguese kept the "p" because it opens the following vowel, so if one writes "conceção", the pronunciation is silly and turns the word meaningless. Also, it would be pronounced like this other word "concessão", Engl. concession, only that its -e- is no open vowel: it sounds like the dotless Turkish i. ```BTW, WRTH 2007 spells it Imaculada Conceicao without those pesky accents but at least with the `right` letters, which is strange as I glance thru the other SW by-frequency listings under BRAZIL and see most of them accented properly. All this is quite aside from the imaginary nature of the very concept of ``immaculate conception`` (Guilherme Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)``` ________ Re. 7-099 of 20 Aug: Re Conceição vs Concepção ``My Novo Michaelis dictionary (Brazilian big size) uses the spelling conceição exclusively for the dogma of the Imaculada Conceição and the spelling concepção for all other cases (Olle Alm, Sweden, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Never thought of that distinxion as an explanation (gh)`` >>> there you have, Glenn, in rlgs. terms, one simply doesn't say "Imaculada Concepção." Complicated? 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, Sept 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WORLD OF HOROLOGY +++++++++++++++++ RAMADAN 2007 Ramadan begins on either Thursday, the 12th of September or Friday the 13th of September and will continue for 30 days until Thursday, the 11th of October or Friday the 12th of October depending upon where one is located. Of course, we'll be looking for extended broadcasting hours throughout the Moslem world (Steve Lare, Holland, MI USA, Sept 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Axually, Ramadan always begins on the (eve of the) first of Ramadan, this year being 1428 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) NO MORE FREE TIME ON THE PHONE By M. S. ENKOJI, Sacramento Bee, August 31, 2007 http://www.knoxstudio.com/shns/story.cfm?pk=NOMORETIME-08-31-07&cat=AN SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Good morning. At the tone, Pacific Daylight Time will be ... something you're going to have to find on your own. As of Sept. 19, dialing to get the correct time in California will no longer work, the service a victim of outdated modes, advancing technology and declining use. California and Nevada are the last states where AT&T provides the free service, and by October, only Nevada will be left, said John Britton, a company spokesman. No one could be sadder than the precisely toned Atlanta woman who's known to millions only by her voice. "I'm sorry that it's fading away," said Joanne Daniels, who began intoning the time recordings 25 years ago. "It makes me feel old." Time is no longer on her side. Electronic telephone equipment that automatically conveys the time to callers is breaking down and can no longer be fixed or replaced, Britton said. The proliferation of household sources for the correct time, such as computers, cell phones and televisions, has diminished the need for the time number, Britton said. Calls through the trunk lines for the time service take up as little as 8 percent of the capacity, he said. "It's not like it was in 1929," Britton said. That year, as a public service, the forerunner of AT&T initiated time service in California. An operator read the time off wall clocks to callers. Soon after, equipment came along that automatically answered and dispensed the time and, in some locations, the temperature. Basically, a light-scanned filmstrips in revolving "drums" that read the correct synchronized segments of the recording. An Atlanta company manufactured the equipment and as part of their service, they recorded all the numbers and introductions. Which is how Daniels -- the Atlanta woman -- got the job. "I was known as the lady in the drum," she said. Daniels was not the first woman to do the recording, but she is decidedly the last. By word of mouth, the speech teacher and actress heard of the recording job and tried out for it in the 1970s, she said. A friend had encouraged her to audition her dulcet voice. The ideal candidate would impart no hint of her homeland, such as the Deep-South lilt that honeys Daniels' natural patter. "I turn it off," said Daniels. When she landed the job, she worked in an Atlanta studio with earphones and a metronome measuring her speech. "I had to get certain things done within one and a half seconds," she said. When she did the recordings for California, she probably spent two days in the studio, she said. "You're saying a lot of times, you know," she said. Daniels laughs when she talks about how others think she made a mint off her work. She got a standard recording fee, rather than residuals -- payment for every use. "I would be a very rich woman," she said. Daniels, who dislikes measuring her own time, gives her age as solidly beyond senior citizen discount. She is hardly retired. A stage actress who toured nationally, Daniels heads up a nonprofit corporation that stages a comedy revue for senior centers and retirement homes. After the phone company work, she went on to supply the voice in local and national commercials during the 1980s and early 1990s for Delta Air Lines, the Salvation Army and insurance companies. Her voice seemed everywhere. A man once came up to her on an airplane, peered at her face, determined to come up with a name. " 'I know you,' he said to me," Daniels said. " 'Your voice, I know your voice. I know you. You're somebody, aren't you?' " The man finally realized why he knew the voice. By discontinuing the time calls in California, the phone company will gain 300,000 new telephone numbers previously reserved for the service. After Sept. 19, a message saying the service is no longer available will play for one year on any number with the 767 prefix. So, does anyone really know what time it is? If anyone in America does, it's Tom O'Brian, chief of the time and frequency division of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. He's the nation's timekeeper, ensconced in Boulder, Colo., home of the atomic clock, the country's official time source. Our time needs have grown beyond the right time to meet for lunch, he said. Cell phones, television broadcasts, GPS devices, all rely on atomic accurate time, he said. So does the nation's power grid: One split second off, and near disaster. "The technology that permeates our lives requires extremely accurate synchronology," O'Brian said. But even a science-minded guy like O'Brian laments the demise of Daniels' time voice. "I called it just for fun," O'Brian said, "to see how accurate it was." (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ WEATHER RADIO RECALL NOTICE http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml07/07292.html The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Oregon Scientific have a recall of the following Oregon Scientific weather radios - Model WR103NX, WR108, WRB308, and John Deere Model WRB308J. In certain areas of the USA, these models fail to receive the National Weather Service alert signals (Mike Peraaho, Sept 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Why? Manufactured in: CHINA! Assembly of Vacuum Tube Radio Kit - Cool Neat Fun Toy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmVC6HqEWYY (via Kevin Redding, ABDX via DXLD) Regenerative, with recordings of CHWO, WHO, etc. as received. It has a circuit board in it, so are the tubes just models for show? (gh, DXLD) DIGITAL BROADCASTING ++++++++++++++++++++ DTV FORA Can someone please provide the link (url) for the website that has discussion pages for each of the DTV markets? (Jim Thomas, CO, WTFDA via DXLD) Hi Jim, You want http://www.avsforum.com Once there you can find the individual forums (Curtis Sadowski, Paxton, Illinois, ibid.) DAB: See CANADA DRM: FRANCE; GERMANY; GUIANA FRENCH; IRELAND; RUSSIA; SPAIN, AND::: IFA 2007 Some notes from the report given today at IFA by Peter Senger (head of the DRM consortium): It is understood that Canada will adopt DRM, and there are indications that Mexico will do so as well [which would mean that the USA will be insulated {or isolated? gh} with their decision for the mediumwave version of HD Radio {IBOC}]. The Sangean/Roberts DRM receiver has been withdrawn; he referred to Sangean for statements about the reasons. Don't expect a big marketing campaign for DRM from a big commercial {or public, government?} broadcaster anymore. Peter Senger regrets the overly optimistic announcements made two years ago about the availability of receivers "which brought me personal attacks by the press". Otherwise this talk session dealt mainly with the VHF version of DRM, presented by the Hannover university and Niedersächsische Landesmedienanstalt (NLM). NLM's Detlef Pagel thinks that the roughly 180 kbps of DRM+ (as the VHF version is called) are enough for four programs, which thus would get 48 kbps each, see below. He mentioned a vision to remove FM signals from a part of band II {87.5-108 MHz} in 2015 to make way for DRM+. In passing he also mentioned that in 2009 new DAB services would be launched as DAB+, i.e. using the AAC audio codec, incompatible with existing DAB radios, of course. Here I would like to add that these were views from Niedersachsen while at the same time a HD Radio pilot is to start in Baden- Württemberg as reported, and I wouldn't be surprised if somebody here in Germany will start to fumble with FM-Xtra as well. And probably all these attempts will be obsolete before gaining a substantial market share, being superseded by another distribution platform: Internet radio. The presence of devices receiving audio streams without a PC, with the feel of a classical radio, was very obvious, some of them were on display next to the DAB booth (where one could get an impression that never anything else than Musicam will be in use). On the Grundig booth I heard them talking about listening to radio stations from Congo. No, they were not talking about shortwave but instead about their Internet radio. For demonstration purposes two HE-AAC audio channels with 64 and 48 kbps, respectively, are during IFA carried on an otherwise emptied DAB ensemble (ch. LE) in Berlin. I took the occasion to check them out at the Deutschlandradio booth, and to put it frankly, to me they sound like crap. This is by no means the same quality than Musicam (or correct MPEG-1 Layer II, a.k.a. "MP2") at 192 kbps but rather reminds me of the infamous 128 kbps transmissions. Perhaps the artifacts are less prominent on the HE-AAC signals, but they are still there, and I miss the clarity, presence and transparency of high quality audio transmissions, presumably because the high frequency content is only synthetic (SBR). Judging from the available samples, this is very much the same quality as Sirius satellite radio, hardly a surprise since Sirius is rumoured to use HE-AAC with 48 kbps for its music channels, if I recall correctly. I also took the occasion to get an impression of Voice of Russia on DAB. It's a 128 kbps mono signal which should result in good quality, but not so: it sounds like it gets compressed to a lower bitrate somewhere in the chain. Away from this circumstance, German has at present a too high audio level, resulting in distortion on this DAB transmission (it's really bad on some of the German mediumwave transmitters). Quite disappointing [Later:] Btw, reportedly all RS-500 based receivers on display at IFA fail to decode the analogue/digital simulcast signal from Zehlendorf on 693. ("Reportedly" because I could not check it out due to lack of time, I wanted to look also for some other things before finally escaping from the roaring flatscreen hell to get an ice-cream at Mauritius, the café popular amongst RBB Inforadio staff.) (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Sept 3, dxldyg via DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also: IRELAND Sangean's decision not to bring its DRM-40 is unfortunate for the DRM movement. I've used a prototype DRM-40, and it worked very well. Very few other standalone DRM receivers exist, e.g. the Morphy Richards 27024. http://www.morphyrichards.co.uk/wizz400/index.pl?ORPGM=addToBasket&ORPGT=perl&ORPRD=27024&ORGRP=R11&ORCAT=SR03&ORLID=ENG (Kim Andrew Elliott, kimandrewelliott.com Sept 3 via DXLD) DREAM vs WINRADIO Some interesting comments received from member Don Smith, who continues to experiment with DRM signals: “I have been having fun listening to Deutsche Welle on 6130 and 7170. It comes in long path in the local afternoon and quite steady with 6130 being the better of the two. Up to about 15 db s/n and good sound both in German of course. But what is good as that I can get the second channel to give the English and German headlines and one click gets the expansion. The headlines seem to take about 10 mins to load, the German headlines first and the English. This is loading at 0.4 kbs per second according to the text panel. Up until about a month ago I could do a comparison between the Dream software and the WinRadio system by switching between systems rapidly. I was using the WinRadio Virtual sound card, a software gimmick WinRadio were selling, but they came out with a new version of the software for the radio and now the other software doesn’t work. They admitted this and said they will come out with a mod! A pity really, the comparison showed that the Dream software brought up the text panel and locked into the signal before the WinRadio but was quicker to drop it. WinRadio seemed to hang onto the signal longer once it got hold of it. Overall there was not much difference between them. Antenna used was a dipole cut for 11 MHz, a long wire I also have up was marginally inferior, about 1 dB. RNZI is still coming in at regular intervals but I haven’t heard any other stations recently” (Sept Australian DX News via DXLD) TIPS FOR RATIONAL LIVING ++++++++++++++++++++++++ THE WATER DIVINER by Rachel Portman, was on a BBC Prom Concert. Here are the programme notes: http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/2007/aboutmusic/p57.shtml Here is the audio link, but it may be gone by now or shortly: http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/2007/rams/prom57.ram Be on the lookout for a repeat around Xmastide (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###